Rabbits are among the most commonly used research animals, particularly for eye irritation and pyrogen testing. 3Rs advances are reducing but not yet eliminating this use.
Rabbits are prey animals with acute stress responses to handling, restraint, and unfamiliar environments. Standard research housing — individual stainless steel cages in brightly lit, noisy facilities — is deeply welfare-adverse for a species evolved to live in social groups in complex underground burrow systems. Refinements including pair housing, hiding spaces, and environmental enrichment significantly reduce stress biomarkers. The replacement agenda has made genuine progress on the Draize test and pyrogen testing — two historically prominent rabbit uses. Accelerating regulatory acceptance of validated alternatives remains the primary lever for further welfare improvement.